OUTLINES OF BOTANY. li 



Many may be found even in a wild state with double flowers, that is, with a 

 multiplication of petals. 



Plants which have usually conspicuous petals will occasionally appear without 

 any at all, either to the flowers produced at particular seasons, or to all the 

 flowers of individual plants, or the petals may be reduced to narrow slips. 



Flowers usually very irregular may, on certain individuals, lose more or less 

 of their irregularity, or appear in some very different shape. Spurs, for in- 

 stance, may disappear, or be produced on all instead of one only of the petals. 



One part may be occasionally added to, or subtracted from, the usual number 

 of parts in each floral whorl, more especially in regular polypetalous flowers. 



Plants usually monoecious or dioecious may become occasionally hermaphro- 

 dite, or hermaphrodite plants may produce occasionally unisexual flowers by the 

 abortion of the stamens or of the pistils. 



Leaves cut or divided where they are usually entire, variegated or spotted 

 where they are usually of one colour, or the reverse, must also be classed 

 amongst those accidental aberrations which the botanist must always be on 

 his guard against mistaking for specific distinctions. 



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